New Delhi: Students applying for visas to study in the US will have to make all their social media accounts public, the US Embassy in India has said.
“Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to the public to facilitate the vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under US law,” the Embassy posted on X.
While processing the visa applications, authorities will go through the social media accounts of the applicants. This is part of the Donald Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to “enhance security and ensure the integrity” of the visa process.
Last month, the Trump administration had ordered all its consulates across the world to stop new student visa interviews and applications for exchange visitor visas.
This was after US officials claimed migrants were “loosely vetted” by the Joe Biden administration and that the system was plagued by frauds. It announced plans for stronger scrutiny and review of social media accounts of immigrants applying to move into the US. It was said that officers will evaluate the accounts, posts and activity to flag any anti-US government sentiments or content critical of American people, institutions, culture, or founding principles.
After the US State Department announced last week that it had resumed processing student visa applications following a temporary suspension, it is now asking applicants to keep their profiles public.
“Since 2019, the United States has required visa applicants to provide social media identifiers on immigrant and non-immigrant visa application forms. We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to US national security,” the Embassy added.
The F visa is primarily for academic students enroled in universities, colleges, or other academic institutions, while the M visa is designated for vocational or non-academic students attending technical or trade schools. Meanwhile, the J visa is for exchange visitors participating in approved cultural and educational exchange programs.
